Tascam announces that its full line of FireWire audio control surfaces and interfaces are now compatible with Apple's Final Cut Pro 5 and Soundtrack Pro editing software with Apple's unveiling of the Final Cut Studio production suite that includes the Final Cut Pro 5 upgrade. This major upgrade to the Apple's software means that Final Cut Pro 5 and Soundtrack Pro are now fully compatible with MCP (Mackie Control Protocol) devices, so you can use external audio control surfaces— including TASCAM's FW-1884 or FW-1082—to edit and manipulate audio more efficiently.

Ploytec GmbH (formerly known as "propagamma") just released their first non-beta version of the USB Audio driver for Mac OS X. It's completly redesigned and finally unleashes the performance the USB ASIO driver for Mac OS 9 is known for, on Mac OS X. The design ensures real 1:1 audio and already works with USB2 highspeed devices in Ploytec's lab. The driver is available as a free update for registered owners of the earlier versions and a 50% off crossgrade for users of the USB ASIO driver for Mac OS 9.

A version 2.3 of RoomVerb M2 by SpinAudio is now available. This new release comes with a redesigned reverb engine (with greatly improved stereo image), 10 new factory presets (totaling 260 deady-to-use presets), ans several minor bugfixes.

DPA announces Windpac, Windshield System for use when it is raining. The windshield itself is water resistant however for extended rainy outdoor use the RainCover will protect the windshield and the microphone. The foam breaks the speed of heavy rain drops, and in addition, the RainCover absorbs the sound of the drop. Because of the characteristics of the RainCover it does not cause any significant distortion to the recorded sound.

Wizzo annouces that Wizooverb W2 version 1.0 RTAS is now available. W2 allows creating stereo room emulations either based on impulse responses or by a proprietary algorithm – and even allows for arbitrary combination of both technologies.

More info in the MacMusic softwares section.